Multicolor i3 Machine Nameplate
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This is an example of using openSCAD to create a model whose geometric features can be printed in multiple colors
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- Printables
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- Other Printer Parts & Upgrades
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- Creative Commons — Public Domain
Since I had an early RepRap i3 Rework, with a standalone RepRap Discount Full Graphic control panel, I have always needed something to hide the threaded rods in front and give it an identity. In openSCAD I used a combination of minkowskiSum, difference, linear extrude of system font, and geometry that prints at 3 different heights relative to the nameplate background.
Because I have a single extruder, and am running Marlin 1.1.9 and slicing with Prusa Slicer 2.5.0, the main nameplate was created and after initial slicing PrusaSlicer Preview mode was used to insert 3 color changes from the black background to emphasize the geometric shapes at each of the 3 heights in different colors. I used a combination of Hatchbox PPLA (for the yellow and magenta), and Hatchbox PLA Pro+ (the dark purple and black). Infill was Honeycomb 10% and resolution is 0.2 mm.
My Z motor overheated after the 2nd. color change, which is a peculiarity with MY printer that I am still working on a solution for. Z lost position, and at this point I was 2+ hours into the print. I didn't want to abort at this point, so I paused the print, disabled the steppers, manually lowered Z back to where it was supposed to be and resumed the print. Unfortunately one of the yellow hexagons didn't layer properly and had to be manually fixed after printing so it is not as clean as the others.
The supports were actually edits done in the plater view of Prusa Slicer to one of the original supports for the i3 control panel (using a combination of rotation, cuts, and place-on-face operators) in order to remove the portions of that part that I didn't need for this application. This took less time than making a new part in openSCAD from scratch. I printed 2 of them and attached to the back of the nameplate with 3M automotive trim tape, and the resultant assembly, snapped in place on the front threaded rods to hide them mostly.
G-code is provided for both the panel and the supports, that you could pull into Prusa Slicer to see and manipulate the color changes for your own use, and also a screenshot of the preview mode showing where the color changes were made and time for each as well as the overall print.
Of course you could choose to do no color changes, or with a multi-extruder setup, introduce your own color changes as you see fit.